magic2motivatehttps://magic2motivate.wordpress.com
You 're a Magician...You Can Make MONEY!!! If you want to make money performing magic shows and you are looking for new ideas, tricks, routines, motivation and training....magic2motivate will a valuable resource for you!Sun, 18 Feb 2018 07:04:58 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.com/https://s2.wp.com/i/buttonw-com.pngmagic2motivatehttps://magic2motivate.wordpress.com
People Don’t Actually Like Creativityhttps://magic2motivate.wordpress.com/2016/02/04/people-dont-actually-like-creativity/
https://magic2motivate.wordpress.com/2016/02/04/people-dont-actually-like-creativity/#respondThu, 04 Feb 2016 21:47:40 +0000http://magic2motivate.wordpress.com/?p=116Continue reading →]]>http://www.realclearscience.com/2013/12/06/people_don039t_actually_like_creativity_256440.html

In the United States we are raised to appreciate the accomplishments of inventors and thinkers—creative people whose ideas have transformed our world. We celebrate the famously imaginative, the greatest artists and innovators from Van Gogh to Steve Jobs. Viewing the world creatively is supposed to be an asset, even a virtue. Online job boards burst with ads recruiting “idea people” and “out of the box” thinkers. We are taught that our own creativity will be celebrated as well, and that if we have good ideas, we will succeed.

It’s all a lie. This is the thing about creativity that is rarely acknowledged: Most people don’t actually like it. Studies confirm what many creative people have suspected all along: People are biased against creative thinking, despite all of their insistence otherwise.

“We think of creative people in a heroic manner, and we celebrate them, but the thing we celebrate is the after-effect,” says Barry Staw, a researcher at the University of California–Berkeley business school who specializes in creativity.

Staw says most people are risk-averse. He refers to them as satisfiers. “As much as we celebrate independence in Western cultures, there is an awful lot of pressure to conform,” he says. Satisfiers avoid stirring things up, even if it means forsaking the truth or rejecting a good idea.

Even people who say they are looking for creativity react negatively to creative ideas, as demonstrated in a 2011 study from the University of Pennsylvania. Uncertainty is an inherent part of new ideas, and it’s also something that most people would do almost anything to avoid. People’s partiality toward certainty biases them against creative ideas and can interfere with their ability to even recognize creative ideas.

A close friend of mine works for a tech startup. She is an intensely creative and intelligent person who falls on the risk-taker side of the spectrum. Though her company initially hired her for her problem-solving skills, she is regularly unable to fix actual problems because nobody will listen to her ideas. “I even say, ‘I’ll do the work. Just give me the go ahead and I’ll do it myself,’ ” she says. “But they won’t, and so the system stays less efficient.”

In the documentary The September Issue, Anna Wintour systematically rejects the ideas of her creative director Grace Coddington, seemingly with no reason aside from asserting her power.

Most people agree that what distinguishes those who become famously creative is their resilience. While creativity at times is very rewarding, it is not about happiness. Staw says a successful creative person is someone “who can survive conformity pressures and be impervious to social pressure.”

To live creatively is a choice. You must make a commitment to your own mind and the possibility that you will not be accepted. You have to let go of satisfying people, often even yourself.

]]>https://magic2motivate.wordpress.com/2015/11/29/do-you-suffer-with-the-impostor-syndrome/feed/0magic2motivateThe Magic Watering Can & Flowershttps://magic2motivate.wordpress.com/2015/10/28/the-magic-watering-can-flowers/
https://magic2motivate.wordpress.com/2015/10/28/the-magic-watering-can-flowers/#respondWed, 28 Oct 2015 01:10:53 +0000http://magic2motivate.wordpress.com/?p=106Continue reading →]]>Years ago I decided to take a small feathered flower botania and turn it into a Magic Watering Can, that way I could turn an expensive magic trick, which would normally take only seconds to perform into a longer routine.

I used the first one I made for many years till I wore it out. Here is a video of the second one I made.

This idea proved to be so successful I decided to make a bigger one. This is a recent video of the new one.

You created a new trick, maybe a new routine, and now you want to take it to the next level…..maybe even market it to other magicians?

The question I ask you is….Do you really own this new idea?

If you say “YES!” Then can you tell me why you think it belongs to you?

What gives you the right to create it, perform it, and/or sell it?

Your answers are important to you right to sell and to your own conscious. Believe me I know.

Here is a video for you watch that will help you understand the process of creating new ideas.

I believe every magician would benefit from watching this video…..

]]>https://magic2motivate.wordpress.com/2015/09/17/who-owns-what/feed/0magic2motivateSame Effect – Different Methodshttps://magic2motivate.wordpress.com/2015/07/27/same-effect-different-methods/
https://magic2motivate.wordpress.com/2015/07/27/same-effect-different-methods/#respondMon, 27 Jul 2015 13:55:03 +0000http://magic2motivate.wordpress.com/?p=98Continue reading →]]>I invite you to watch these two videos of two different magicians using a different method but performing the same effect.

The first video is a performance by Richard Osterlind. He has been performing this effect for over 25 years.

The second video is a new product produced by Paul Harris, titled “The Examiner” by John Graham.

I am not saying that Graham stole this idea from Osterlind but this is a perfect example of the evolution of an idea.

I do not know if Graham saw Osterlind’s performance or if he communicated with him. But if they had communicated and collaborated on this effect…we might have an even better method and technique to perform this effect.

]]>https://magic2motivate.wordpress.com/2015/07/27/same-effect-different-methods/feed/0magic2motivateThe Zig Zag Girl Scandalhttps://magic2motivate.wordpress.com/2015/07/27/the-zig-zag-girl-scandal/
https://magic2motivate.wordpress.com/2015/07/27/the-zig-zag-girl-scandal/#respondMon, 27 Jul 2015 00:28:29 +0000http://magic2motivate.wordpress.com/?p=90Continue reading →]]>Magician and Magic historian, Mike Caveney, reported an scandal that took place back in the 60’s. It is centered around Robert Harbin’s illusion, the Zig Zag Girl.

Here is a video of Harbin performing that illusion.

Below is a link to Mike Caveney’s video reporting the scandal that took place.

I believe this report provides a valuable education on our magic community and the evolution of magic.

What can we learn from this report?

As Mike pointed out Harbin was motivated to write his book and he sold his illusion plans. In years past and even today many secrets are stolen without permission by other inventors and in industries such as, technology, entrepreneurs, writers, musicians and so on.

May I suggest this thought….

Instead of stealing ideas…..what if we learn how to collaborate with others?

In today’s world, communication and referencing is easy….information, thoughts and ideas can be communicated, processed and elaborated in a short amount of time.

Of course the next question is….Who owns the idea and who has the right claim ownership and to manufacturer the product and make the money?

If you know the world of magic….there is NOT a lot of money made from selling magic products. The manufacturing and the distribution of product has shifted and become so diverse because of today’s technology and the Internet.

So I then ask….what are the real questions here regarding the inventing and the manufacturing of the new magic products? The answer to that is still being explored and still yet, to evolve to a level where we can begin to see a new way of thinking and creating new ideas and products.

]]>https://magic2motivate.wordpress.com/2015/07/27/the-zig-zag-girl-scandal/feed/0magic2motivateAuditioninghttps://magic2motivate.wordpress.com/2015/07/26/auditioning/
https://magic2motivate.wordpress.com/2015/07/26/auditioning/#respondSun, 26 Jul 2015 15:01:57 +0000http://magic2motivate.wordpress.com/?p=81Continue reading →]]>There have several times throughout my career when I had to audition for work.

These auditions were usually for a series of on-going bookings or for a job as a resident entertainer.

My first big audition was for the entertainment company for a Festival Market Place at the Indianapolis Union Train Station. I don’t remember how many magicians auditioned for that job but I selected and worked that job for over 3 years as an atmosphere entertainer along with several other variety acts. I performed up to 25 shows every week. That gig gave me the chance to learn how to work an audience and refine my performance.

I also had to audition for a job as entertainer doing product promotions for trade shows and retail businesses.

The secret is to do the stuff that is YOU!

Below is a link to an article I recommend to help you prepare for a audition.

]]>https://magic2motivate.wordpress.com/2015/07/26/auditioning/feed/0magic2motivateunion stationSteve Grocery Store PromoSteve Trade Show MikeSells“Do As I Do Paper Tear”https://magic2motivate.wordpress.com/2015/07/13/do-as-i-do-paper-tear/
https://magic2motivate.wordpress.com/2015/07/13/do-as-i-do-paper-tear/#respondMon, 13 Jul 2015 00:20:49 +0000http://magic2motivate.wordpress.com/?p=77Continue reading →]]>Years ago I started using the “Tear/No Tear Pads of Paper” in my motivational sales programs.
Later on I came up with idea using the same pad of paper just for fun. Here is the idea I have been using with great success.

The magician introduces a pad of paper. Two sheets are removed….one is given to a volunteer and the other is held back for the magician.

The magician instructs the volunteer to do as he does. The magician holds up his piece of paper and folds it in half. He then stands next to the volunteer as he instructs the volunteer to do the same.

He continues by saying, “Tear the folded paper in half.” the magician does this while facing the audience. When the volunteer attempts to tear the paper he finds the paper will not tear. The audience will notice the volunteer struggling to tear the paper but the magician continues to give instructions as though the volunteer is doing the same.

The magician continues to demonstrate how to tear the paper not only once but twice and then three times leaving several small pieces in the magician’s hand. The magician then stacks the peices together in his hand….

A magic word is spoken and immediately the torn pieces of paper are unfolded show it has magically restored, back to one piece of paper.

The magician then turns to the volunteer and tells the volunteer to open their paper and to show it also has magically restored itself back into one piece. TA DA! Yuk Yuk.

Of course the magician acts as though the volunteer has done the same as he has done giving the volunteer praise as he instructs the audience to give the volunteer a deserved applause.

The audience will know that the volunteer was not able to tear up the paper as instructed but after the laughter of watching the volunteer try to tear the paper the audience will join with the magician acting as though the volunteer as performed the same magic trick.

(You may notice this idea was inspired by Whit Haydn’s Linking ring routine.)

Sometimes I will sign their paper with a short motivational message and give it to them to keep so they will remember me.

Here is a short video of me performing this effect for a school program:

]]>https://magic2motivate.wordpress.com/2015/07/13/do-as-i-do-paper-tear/feed/0magic2motivateRope Through Bodyhttps://magic2motivate.wordpress.com/2015/07/12/rope-through-body/
https://magic2motivate.wordpress.com/2015/07/12/rope-through-body/#respondSun, 12 Jul 2015 23:48:33 +0000http://magic2motivate.wordpress.com/?p=72Continue reading →]]>A few years ago while attending the “Get-Together” in Colon, Michigan, my friend, magician, Bob Bloenk. He shared with me a motivational message for the famous “Rope Through Body” trick made popular by Bob Sheets.

With Bob’s permission I pass this along to you:

“Imagine with me that life is like a piece of rope. This rope is like the the path we take. You will make choices as you make the twist and turns while traveling down your path. When you are young you start here and travel toward the end of your rope. Me, I am about here, near the end of my rope but you are young and will soon find that life is full of exciting moments created by the choices you make. You have the power to choose which side of the road you will travel. You can choose happiness or fear and frustration. Its your choice. You don’t have to follow the guy in front of you. You get to choose which side of the road you are going to travel.

Here’s a word to the wise….happiness does not come from money, possessions, or fame….it comes when you find joy, peace and love. Remember we are all just passing through this life. You can’t take money, possessions and fame with you when you leave. Therefore, may love, joy and peace be with you always.”

If you don’t know how to perform the trick of passing a rope through your body, find Bob Sheets’ HANG’EM HIGH DVD.

Back in 1993 I included a trick in one of my magic lectures called “Crossing the Line.” This was inspired by the “Rope Through Body” trick except I used the barricade tape commonly used by police reading “Do Not Cross.” Today you can find that tape in party or novelty shops.

I created a special gimmick just for the use of the barricade tape, to allow it to pass through my body. If you want to know more….contact me personally.